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Angie:Hello, Alameda. Welcome to the Island City Beat podcast. I'm your host, Angie Watson- Hajjem . Today, we're gonna be talking to one of our two newest Alameda City Council members.
Angie:And I say one of two because we have two new members, Greg Bowler, who we'll be talking to at another time on our blog our podcast, and Michelle Pryor, who we get to spend some time with today. Michelle got the most votes of any candidate that ran for city council. So she's not just our newest city council member, but she's also our new vice mayor. So we're gonna hear a little bit more about Michelle, a little bit more about her backstory and what inspired her to run for office and what her vision is for all of us here in Alameda. So with that, let me say hello, Michelle Pryor.
Angie:Welcome to the Island City Beat podcast.
Michele:Oh, hi. Thank you.
Michele:I'm so excited to be here. This is my first interview, so I hope you can hear.
Angie:Now prior to you running for city council, I had never heard of you before. You were this new person on the landscape. So, many people may have had the same experience. Like, who is this person here?
Angie:So tell us a little bit about yourself. I know you're from LA. We won't hold it against you. Okay? Well tell us little about your life in LA and what you're doing and really what inspired you to come up to the Bay Area.
Michele:So I am a teacher, I teach special education and that is what I was doing in Los Angeles, but teachers in the Bay Area make quite a bit more money. Do they really? Yes. And so I didn't get rich, but I was able to, you know, pay off credit cards and have a savings account, which is, you know, feels like a good thing.
Angie:Very important.
Michele:Yes, for sure. But, you know, cost of living, especially housing, is really expensive here and that was quite shocking for And then I came to Alameda. By sheer luck I was looking for a place to live. I was quite unaware of the housing crisis when I moved here. So, but I got so lucky and this was just the best happy accident ever.
Michele:Like I love Alameda, I will never leave. Yeah. So I did rent here for seven years and then I was able to buy something. But that as a renter is why I started to get really involved in local politics because having my rent go up so much, I think half the island are renters and everyone, so all of you will know what I'm speaking about. And it's really deflating to know that like I'm never gonna, well for most of the time I was there, I thought I will never be able to buy anything.
Michele:Yes. I think, and also too, it's not like I could go anywhere else. And then, you know, to hear about no fault evictions, like where would any of us go that is gonna be better off? Everywhere is this expensive from San Francisco to San Jose. So, yeah, and so that brings me to like, I got really involved in the city of Alameda Democratic Club.
Michele:I was on the board for many years. I got involved with the Alameda Central Committee. I'm someone's alternate, Austin Tam's alternate. Yeah, and honestly just I've met so many good local people in politics that are really doing the work and that is inspiring and it still inspires me.
Angie:Yeah. Now were you surprised how well you did Michelle because you came in first. I mean, this new person here running for office for the first time. I I assume that was your first ever Yeah. Were you surprised at how well you did?
Michele:I was surprised. You know, there was no internal polling. I was really just, oh, I hope I get second. I'm gonna be honest. That that was my like wow if I get second that'd be so great.
Michele:So this was I would say unexpected but I really thought it a great chance to get second. So but you know yeah I'm very excited about that. I'm very excited about everyone that's currently on the council too. I feel that the mutual respect even if we're gonna, I mean inevitably people disagree about staff, but I feel like we're gonna disagree and move on. That I feel like everyone believes that every other person has good intentions and is smart, is gonna do the homework, and it really has the best intentions for Alameda.
Michele:So I think that's gonna be very productive. Yes. I'm really looking forward to working with our mayor and the other four council people. Yeah. Our three council people.
Michele:Great, great.
Angie:So tell me, Michele, just looking at our wonderful city here in Alameda, what do you see are the three, let's say three major challenges that are facing? Climate change for sure as an island city.
Michele:Would like, and when I was door knocking and I would say, hey, this is an issue really important to me and that seemed to resonate with people all over the island. Yeah, I mean, we're gonna have to be resilient to climate change. You know, we're gonna have groundwater in the center of the island that's gonna potentially cause flooding. Just like we had that storm that made a lot of damage on Bay Farm recently.
Angie:Right.
Michele:And on and on. And that is something that was not, it's not gonna be an unusual event and it wasn't even a major event, but it caused a lot of damage. So yeah, we have a lot of work to do. And also as things get really hot, we want to have like centers for people that are vulnerable to have somewhere to go.
Angie:Cooling centers.
Michele:Cooling centers, absolutely. And also just disaster. Where are we all gonna go if there is flooding?
Angie:So do you think that climate change will be something that the State Council will be focusing on? Yeah, have
Michele:the plan right now and absolutely. And I think too, it's like there's a plan, but the plan, it has to be flexible because what we're facing is unpredictable and unprecedented. And we can't use, we can't we can't solely rely on what we've done in the past to deal with disasters. And so also just collaborating with like Oakland and San Leandro and just in other, of course other places locally, but other places in the world that are facing this issue and what are they doing and what are they doing correct? Let's do that.
Michele:What mistakes have they made? Let's avoid that. Because this is new to all of us.
Angie:Yeah, it's something that affects everyone. It's not a local issue, not national. I mean, it's the whole world that is impacted by climate change. So besides climate change, what are some other things that you like to see City Council tackle?
Michele:Affordable housing for sure. Sure. You know, and it's, you know, I think we have, there's a lot of people that are staff that are working for the city that are working to put people that, know, are vulnerable population, you know, into homes and provide services. So we absolutely continue that to also just to continue to build. We're doing a
Angie:really good job here. I believe, I think that we were one of the first cities to meet our housing element goal for affordable housing. So we're actually a good trajectory right now, but we still have a long ways to go as you as you know.
Michele:Yeah. So I I I feel yeah. And that's one thing I'm I'm I feel very grateful for as somebody who's new, hey, have a lot of things now that are currently working. Let's do that. Let's for me, my role is to be more supportive of that and to continue to fund these programs that are working.
Michele:I will absolutely do that. And I feel very confident that our council would like that and our community too. Yeah.
Angie:Yeah. So I know that you and I had talked a while ago about public banking and it being used as a tool to provide funding for public housing. Would that work here you think at Alameda? What do you think about that?
Michele:I do. You know, was talking to my mom about public banking on the way here. Oh really? For the people listening, my mom is visiting from Los Angeles and we were speaking about this. I think that it has worked in other places.
Michele:So we're not reinventing the wheel. It's a great way to keep local money here locally and it's a great way to fund these projects. I know that eSpace, so I think it's Richmond, Oakland and Berkeley that are working together right now for a public bank. I'm very curious to see what happens. I would love us to be able collaborate with them.
Michele:I think it's a very important, think like in theory, is something I support wholeheartedly. And then I think with everything, we just want to make sure the people that are doing the banking are reliable and transparent and all of that. But that also is true of a regular bank that we actually have to bail out every once in a So I think it's definitely worth the risk and absolutely something we should look into and seriously look into
Angie:for Great, so purple housing, climate change, what else do you see some of the challenges facing out Well, safety, I
Michele:know even if it's optically, but also this is something that is occurring in the Bay Area, a lot of shoplifting, really I wanna call them like aggressive thefts. I grew up in Los Angeles, my own grandmother years ago had been carjacked. I was a bank teller in the 90s. Like I know what it's like to experience this in your work. Know, you're just a worker and you get robbed.
Michele:It is terrifying and it's traumatic. Once is enough. So I do know that the city of Alameda has a lot of confidence in our police and we are now I think fully staffed. But to not just continue, you know, to continue communicating with our residents because I've gotten emails about this. I am also concerned and it's, we want to feel safe in our home.
Michele:Absolutely, yes.
Angie:So feeling safe in your community is so important, and you know, I think for the most part we have a pretty safe community here. Are there things that you think the police department could do to help foster more safety or a sense of safety here in our city?
Michele:I think that they're doing a great job. Would, I do, I really do. I think when these incidents happen, it just makes people feel extremely uncomfortable
Angie:and unsafe.
Michele:So I think it's just a way for all of us including city council and the police just to communicate and like hey this is what happened, this is where we're going, this is our plan, this is how we're working with other communities. And so that we at least feel like okay people know what they're doing. There is a sense of control and you know I know I believe that but I at the same time I think we need receptive to people's concerns and fears and listen and then say, hey, yes, we hear you and here's our plan. And maybe
Angie:just you know like having more, I don't know, neighborhood watch groups. Know in my neighborhood we're talking about having that all of this coming together was a person who got robbed in our street last year broad daylight that was very traumatic and scary for people to see my mom witnessed it she was on our deck and she saw the whole thing happen so just people coming together kind of looking looking after each other. You know, I think maybe just having more vigilance in that way could also deter some crime. Yeah. Yeah.
Angie:So yeah. It's it's tough. It's tough. So you're very busy. So you're gonna be the you are our vice mayor, city council member.
Angie:You also are you continuing your career as a teacher? Is that Yes. You're still doing? You are. Oh my god.
Angie:How do you do it all?
Michele:Well, currently, I I work in Fremont. It's a pretty large school district. Mhmm. And I am vice president of our teacher union. And because we're so large, I'm able to do that full time.
Michele:So I am on release from teaching. I see. So I do have long days there, but the days are flexible in that I might have meetings here in Alameda in the morning, but then I could stay later in Fremont. And a lot of times these, you know, those two rules overlap in that it's, you know, it can get political in Fremont and Alameda, but in a good way. You know, it's building relationships, listening to people.
Michele:So I like both very much and I look forward to balancing both
Angie:to be honest. Yeah, far it's been good.
Michele:I think also you know that I want to say like the team in Alameda, you know the staff and the people on council and our mayor you know work very well together. There's excellent communication And I feel that way too about the people I work with in Fremont. So, you know, being part of two excellent teams is, you know, when you're there for each other, you pick up the slack, you give more when you can, you take a break when you can. And I yeah, so I feel like the balance is very doable. And I like that they're similar hats.
Michele:I teach special education. So I want to clarify that. Yeah, when I'm in that role, it's like having seven different jobs.
Angie:I couldn't imagine.
Michele:And having to switch gears like in a moment. So the nice thing is like, oh, this is one gear and very similar things. But as a SPED teacher, I'm like teaching students, I'm writing IEPs which are legal documents, I might have a child having a behavior which of course I did not put in my plan for the day. Know, and working with lots of paraeducators and specialists, having not enough people or resources in my room. That pace is like boom boom boom boom boom.
Michele:So this is a longer day, a more predictable and yeah.
Angie:Can I just say to Michelle that I love teachers? I have an aunt who's a teacher. I, you know, I just think you guys are just the salt of the earth. So I did my hats off to all of you teachers. I've always tried to support, you know, the teachers here as, you know, being being a parent in Alameda.
Angie:I just love you guys all. So tell me, being that you're such a busy person, will continue to be, what do you do for your downtime? What are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing? You have that limited free time.
Angie:Yeah.
Michele:You know, one of the reasons I moved to Alameda is because I like to go running, and I like to go running at night. And that was important to me to be able to just, you know, throw on, you know, lights. My you know, like I said, my mom is here. She's looking at me like, you better be wearing lights when you go running at night. But I like that.
Michele:I like the quiet. I just it's a time of day. I do like to run. Had done this back in Los Angeles. So it was important to me to move to a community that is safe.
Michele:So that's one thing, I do like rollerblading, I read a lot. I have friends here, we have like board night, very nerdy, but we play, I'm sorry board game night. So that's really fun. I do like to travel, yeah, and hike, and Alameda is, I mean, bike ride here, walk We're all flat.
Angie:I mean it's great to ride your bike and walk around.
Michele:And I'm not just saying this because you know, but I love to be in Alameda. During the pandemic I am so glad that if I was gonna be stuck anywhere, this was a wonderful place to be at home for two years.
Angie:Yeah, yeah, absolutely. We are very fortunate to be here. What do you want people to know about you, Michelle?
Michele:You know, I was trying to think about that. Well, there's a, you know, a few things. I, you know, I I feel like my students as a special education teacher have really prepared me for this in that it's so important to have a plan and a backup plan, but also to know that you can't rely on things that have worked well in the past because for me every school year I have new kids and it's like whatever I did last year may not work, so I have to be really open minded about being able to change and pivot. And also just, I'm a, and because of that role, I've also spent my entire career collaborating with the adults in my classroom, with the families of my students, the different specialists I work with. Essentially have two bosses.
Michele:I have the campus boss and the district boss. And so it's so important to communicate, have best intent, you know, believe in the best intentions of everyone and to work really hard. And I feel like that and believing that has worked really well for me professionally. And I feel like that is those are the same skills I'm gonna use for city council. Just yeah, and to know that I don't need to know all the answers, but somebody there does and just to be.
Michele:And then also when people have different opinions you know that I've learned that that is so valid. There are so many things I don't see. Again those are things my students have taught me because they aren't gonna have the filter that we have. They will let me know in other ways. Right.
Michele:Not. Not so pleasant. And you're like, okay. Yeah. Maybe that was a terrible idea.
Michele:But also just be able to like go, yeah, and just own your mistakes and clean it clean up your mess and move on. Yeah.
Angie:Yeah. So my last question to you is what are you most excited about being our vice mayor and, you
Michele:know, newest city council member? Oh, I'm really excited about so many things. I think, know, working to get, you know, like blue and green energy businesses here on the island. Know, and I also just having smaller local businesses fill our downtown areas. There's so many good people with Alameda Family Services or the Food Bank, just so many organizations.
Michele:Could go on and on. There are so many organizations on the island doing great things. So it's so nice to be like a part of that because I am I feel like I'm just a piece of this puzzle of a really great community.
Angie:And you're such a collaborator because you work with so many different people and so you really probably will have no problem working with all the different players here in Alameda. I think you'd be really good with that, putting it together.
Michele:For sure and I hope so. I mean that has worked well for me too is just like, hey you know who has a really good idea about XYZ, you should talk to this person. Because yeah, I think in a way having so many people speak, know it can be cumbersome and it could be a little slower, but I feel like the product of what, you know, overall is gonna be good quality, solid, know, whatever that is. It could be if you're building a bridge or we're, you know, going to fortify, you know, the estuary and on and on. The input from a variety of people, it's really invaluable.
Michele:Really important, yeah.
Angie:Well, it's all coming together. Well, Michelle, it has been such a pleasure to meet you and talk to you, and I wish you the very best as our Vice Mayor, City Council Member here in Alameda. Thank you so much
Michele:Well, too. Well, and the better I do, the better we all do.
Angie:That's right. We're all in this together. Yeah. Alright. Thank you so much and thank all of you out there who are listening to our podcast and we will come back with another show very soon.
Angie:Take care everyone. Bye bye.